Team effort between Delaware and its higher educational institutions

A first-of-its-kind meeting, according to the Governor’s office, when Gov. Jack Markell and the presidents of all three of the state’s universities gathered in Dover Tuesday.

Together with the governor, the University of Delaware’s President, Dr. Patrick Harker, President of Delaware State University, Dr. Harry Williams, and President of Delaware Technical and Community College, Dr. Orlando George all signed pledges promising even greater cooperation between the state and its schools.

“We have in Delaware… three institutions that are not only terrific institutions on their own, but they also are three institutions who are finding an increasing number of ways to collaborate with each other. Not for the purpose of simply collaborating, but for the purpose of getting things done that they couldn’t do on their own,” said Gov. Markell.

Markell says universities help drive the economic engine of our state, and so a collaboration with these institutions is a no-brainer. Collaborations that, Del Tech’s president says, are already well underway.

“We all know there’s a shortage of math teachers. One of the things we’ve put into place is an Associate of Arts and Teaching in Secondary Mathematics. That program, that degree, is fully articulated with the University of Delaware and Delaware State University,” said Dr. George.

Preparing students to hit the ground running their junior years at either university.

“And then eventually we’ll be able to put out more math teachers in our secondary schools,” added Dr. George.

“This is an agreement between the three institutions of higher education, really reaffirming their commitment, as well as the commitment to the state, to see additional work together on behalf of all people in the state,” said Gov. Markell.